Japan 2016: Tonkatsu Wako

A popular chain in Japan (we had to wait about 30 minutes for a table), Tonkatsu Wako is a restaurant specializing in deep fried pork cutlets.  Very similar to the Austrian schnitzel, the Japanese tonkatsu is traditionally a pork loin that is breaded using panko breadcrumbs and then deep fried.  The result is a real crispy and light outer crust and a tender moist meat on the inside.  Just like bento boxes, everything on the menu at Tonkatsu Wako are available only as sets, whether its dinner or lunch.  The usual sides that accompany the main dish is a bowl of Japanese white rice, miso soup, some pickled radish and a mound of shredded cabbage.  My main dish of choice is Tonkatsu Wako’s most popular dish, the Rosukatsu which uses the pork loin.  Other mains available are fried oysters, fried shrimp, pork and cheese cutlets and crab cream croquettes.  However, the Rosukatsu was as delicious as I expected it to be, especially when dipped in tonkatsu sauce (or what I call, Japan’s version of steak sauce).  If you go to Japan you will quickly notice that tonkatsu is served in many different ways as an add on to other popular dishes like curry and donburi (on top of rice).  Whichever way its served, its a must eat in Japan!